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Knowledge Base

The knowledge base is a free source of information both for supported employment and for disability / employment support generally. In addition to contributions from BASE and its member organisations, the knowledge base also acts as an archive for initiatives such as Valuing People Now.

Listed below are the most recent knowledge base contents that meet your search criteria. To find content, use the filters to select and add topics, a type of content, a publishing source, or a year of publication. Note that many topics require you to select a subtopic from a list which appears after you select the main topic. You can clear your search by clicking Reset.

You can search for items on this website, using free text or phrases, by using the search box at the top right of this page.

Scotland's Social Enterprise Strategy 2016-2026

This ten-year, national social enterprise strategy sets out our shared ambitions for social enterprise in Scotland, jointly developed with the sector. It provides a framework for action over the next decade.

Social enterprise models inclusive growth and this strategy will support the aim of sustainable economic growth, tackling inequalities and building a fairer Scotland.

The ESA Decisionmaker's guide contains guidance around exempt and permitted work. The guidance is in sections 41186 to 41262 of the guide.

If you’re claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), fill in the permitted work form, attached below, before you start any paid or unpaid work. This should be sent it to the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your benefit. They will tell you if the work you want to do meets the permitted work conditions.

The Council for Disabled Children regularly receives questions from SEND Regional Leads and delegates from regional SEND workshops on a whole series of issues relating to the SEND reforms and joint commissioning.

These bulletins are designed to share the learning from those discussions to a broader audience. They cover:

A study of over 1000 unemployed adults by Tarani Chandola, Professor of Medical Sociology at The University of Manchester, compared health and stress levels of those remaining unemployed and different quality jobs. The study revealed evidence that runs contrary to the assumption that taking any job is better for a person’s health and wellbeing than being unemployed. The study found that:

Sense has published employment toolkits for people with sensory impairments. They include template CVs and tips for writing a covering letter and preparing for an interview. They also include links to a number of resources and employment programmes to help people with sensory impairments looking for work.

The toolkits were co-produced with one their young campaigners who is deafblind, Molly O’Brien.

Localis and the University of Birmingham have published a report A Sector Deal for Disability that argues that, as part of its efforts to close the disability employment gap, the government should now commit to a sector deal for disability as part of its emerging industrial strategy.

The Department for Education has issued revised guidance about study programmes. This guide sets out the government’s policy on 16 to 19 study programmes. It covers academic, technical and vocational study programmes, including traineeships and supported internships.

It applies to all providers of 16 to 19 education in England, including:

The gig economy can offer some useful opportunities to people who struggle to work in conventional ways according to Gainful Gigging, a report published by Reform.

In his review of modern employment practices last week, Matthew Taylor hailed the “genuine two-way flexibility” the gig economy can offer, and the opportunity it presents for “those who may not be able to work in conventional ways”. Reform’s latest report echoes this, and makes recommendations for how government should support people into the gig economy.